Ruth Nelson

Biography

Ruth Nelson was an American stage and film actress who began her career in New York theater. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, she studied with Richard Boleslawski at the American Laboratory Theatre and made her New York stage debut in 1928 in Martine. She then appeared in The Seagull and Red Rust before becoming a charter member of The Group Theatre in 1931, remaining with the company until 1941 and earning praise for her role in Clifford Odets's Waiting for Lefty. After moving to Hollywood, she appeared in films including Wilson (1944), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), Humoresque (1946), and The Sea of Grass (1947). She later returned to the screen in 3 Women (1977), The Late Show (1977), and A Christmas Without Snow (1980). Her final feature was Awakenings (1990), for which critics singled out her performance.

87years old at death

Born August 2, 1905Saginaw
Died September 12, 1992New York City
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Also credited as Ruth Gloria Nelson

Movie Career

Films: 14
Career span: 47 years1943 to 1990

Genres

Drama93%, 13 films
Romance29%, 4 films
War21%, 3 films
Music14%, 2 films
Mystery14%, 2 films

First and latest

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First role
Nelson's New York stage debut came on April 4, 1928, at the Laboratory Theatre, where she played the title role in Jean-Jacques Bernard's Martine under Boleslawski's direction.
Early training
During the early 1920s in New York City, Nelson studied at the American Laboratory Theatre, first under Daniel Frohman and then under Richard Boleslawski.

Ruth Nelson movies on Netflix

Awakenings1990IMDb rating 7.8as Mrs. Lowe
A Christmas Without Snow1980IMDb rating 5.7as Inez
3 Women1977IMDb rating 7.7as Mrs. Rose
The Late Show1977IMDb rating 6.8as Mrs. Schmidt
Arch of Triumph1948IMDb rating 6.3as Madame Fessier
The Sea of Grass1947IMDb rating 6.3as Selina Hall - Sam Hall's Wife
Humoresque1946IMDb rating 7.3as Esther Boray
Shock1946IMDb rating 6.3as Margaret Cross (voice)
Till the End of Time1946IMDb rating 6.7as Amy Harper
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn1945IMDb rating 8.0as Miss McDonough
None Shall Escape1944IMDb rating 7.1as Alice Grimm
The Keys of the Kingdom1944IMDb rating 7.2as Mrs. Chisholm, Francis' Mother
Wilson1944IMDb rating 6.3as Ellen Wilson
The North Star1943IMDb rating 5.9as Nadya Simonov

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Awakenings1990 Biography, Dramaas Mrs. Lowe
IMDb rating 7.8179K votes
3 Women1977 Dramaas Mrs. Rose
IMDb rating 7.720K votes
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn1945as Miss McDonough
IMDb rating 8.09.1K votes
Wilson1944as Ellen Wilson
IMDb rating 6.31.9K votes
Humoresque1946as Esther Boray
IMDb rating 7.35.5K votes
The Late Show1977as Mrs. Schmidt
IMDb rating 6.83.8K votes
The Sea of Grass1947as Selina Hall - Sam Hall's Wife
IMDb rating 6.32.7K votes
Arch of Triumph1948as Madame Fessier
IMDb rating 6.32.2K votes

Most often with

Elia Kazan directed two of these films, Lewis Milestone two. Vincent Price appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Vincent Price

Bess Flowers

Cedric Hardwicke

Charles Halton

Thomas Mitchell

James Gleason

Elia KazanDirector, 2 films Lewis MilestoneDirector, 2 films

Films together

Vincent Price3 films together, 1944 to 1946
Vincent Price's page
- Shock1946IMDb rating 6.3Nelson as Margaret CrossvoicePrice as Richard Cross
- The Keys of the Kingdom1944IMDb rating 7.2Nelson as Mrs. Chisholm, Francis' MotherPrice as Angus Mealey
- Wilson1944IMDb rating 6.3Nelson as Ellen WilsonPrice as William Gibbs McAdoo
Bess Flowers2 films together, 1946 to 1948
Bess Flowers's page
- Arch of Triumph1948IMDb rating 6.3Nelson as Madame FessierFlowers as Gambler at Roulette Table
- Humoresque1946IMDb rating 7.3Nelson as Esther BorayFlowers as Party Guest / Concert Attendee
Cedric Hardwicke2 films together, 1944
Cedric Hardwicke's page
- The Keys of the Kingdom1944IMDb rating 7.2Nelson as Mrs. Chisholm, Francis' MotherHardwicke as Monsignor at Tweedside
- Wilson1944IMDb rating 6.3Nelson as Ellen WilsonHardwicke as Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
Charles Halton2 films together, 1944 to 1945
Charles Halton's page
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn1945IMDb rating 8.0Nelson as Miss McDonoughHalton as Mr. Barker
- Wilson1944IMDb rating 6.3Nelson as Ellen WilsonHalton as Colonel House
Thomas Mitchell2 films together, 1944
Thomas Mitchell's page
- The Keys of the Kingdom1944IMDb rating 7.2Nelson as Mrs. Chisholm, Francis' MotherMitchell as Willie Tulloch
- Wilson1944IMDb rating 6.3Nelson as Ellen WilsonMitchell as Joseph Tumulty
James Gleason2 films together, 1944 to 1945
James Gleason's page
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn1945IMDb rating 8.0Nelson as Miss McDonoughGleason as McGarrity
- The Keys of the Kingdom1944IMDb rating 7.2Nelson as Mrs. Chisholm, Francis' MotherGleason as Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske
Elia KazanDirector, 2 films, 1945 to 1947
All films by Elia Kazan
- The Sea of Grass1947IMDb rating 6.3Nelson as Selina Hall - Sam Hall's Wife
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn1945IMDb rating 8.0Nelson as Miss McDonough
Lewis MilestoneDirector, 2 films, 1943 to 1948
All films by Lewis Milestone
- Arch of Triumph1948IMDb rating 6.3Nelson as Madame Fessier
- The North Star1943IMDb rating 5.9Nelson as Nadya Simonov
Also two films together6 more actors
- Charles TrowbridgeThe Sea of Grass (1947) and Shock (1946)
- Trevor BardetteThe Sea of Grass (1947) and None Shall Escape (1944)
- Alexander KnoxNone Shall Escape (1944) and Wilson (1944)
- Art SmithArch of Triumph (1948) and None Shall Escape (1944)
- Dorothy McGuireTill the End of Time (1946) and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
- Peggy Ann GarnerA Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) and The Keys of the Kingdom (1944)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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